Thursday, February 23, 2012

I was recently asked for ideas about how to find a community of friends when you move to a new city. I thought I'd share my ideas in case you know someone who could use them. Please share your suggestions in the comments.

1. Email your friends and family.
Ask for e-intros to folks they know in the area.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

"We all carry a desire to be recognized and appreciated,
and often it takes only a small gesture of deep listening or witnessing
for a situation of despair to turn to one of hope and resiliency." ~ Caroline Lovell, Founder, Traveling PostcardsTraveling Postcards facilitates the creation of handmade art postcards that are hand delivered all over the world to bringing awareness and voice to women and girls whose lives have suffered from isolation, violence, or repression. Over the last year, the work of Traveling Postcards keeps crossing my path, so I asked its founder, Caroline Lovell, to share with us:

Traveling Postcards is a humanitarian organization that is gathering women’s voices worldwide, and creating a traveling collection of visual and written wisdom that so many women hold in their hearts. Hundreds of unique, hand-made art postcards, containing words of compassion and solidarity are hand delivered to individuals and communities all over the world, bringing connection, hope, visibility and voice to women and girls whose lives have suffered from isolation, violence or repression.

Everyday art making materials are used to represent innate connections between women and an understanding that even if we don’t know each other, we still care for one another. By slowing down and making a piece of art for someone, we provide a personal connection to the issues and to individuals and create opportunities to see our commonalities despite geographic or cultural borders.

The cards are unique and beautiful and carry the voices of women (and some men) depicted in images and words and offer compassionate healing for those who both make them, and for those who receive them. You do not need to be an “artist” to make a postcard, but each participant is surprised and delighted by their creativity and to see that their cards contain colors, words and images that reflect their strongest selves. Empowerment for our participants comes from connecting to an inner wisdom that is often kept hidden from public view, but is a place of extraordinary innate strength and well being. Connecting personal wisdom to effect positive change is our goal.

Each card is a piece of art in my mind. I imagined women or girls who received cards might keep them in a place in her home, in a drawer, or on a shelf that would always remind her that she is cared for, and that she is a part of a much larger global community. I feel that art is able to translate beyond language, and communicate a much larger vision of personal connection.

What is the path that brought you to this work?

Working in and with a community of women, advocating for women’s rights and the right to be free of violence, and empowering women to be leaders has long been a personal goal and driving force for me. It was a natural choice for me, as an artist, to begin holding workshops for women and girls using creativity as a way for my own self expression and dreams to emerge. Before this point I had not been able to affect the kind of change I was seeking by being a fine art photographer only. I was frustrated by the exclusivity of the gallery world, and I had not seen the success that some photo journalists have by taking a singular image that could change the world! Yet, I wanted to be that artist and still do. I know that I can make a difference for positive change, and am learning that Traveling Postcards might be the vehicle for making that change.

What is your favorite Traveling Postcards success story?

Honestly I think every postcard is a success story. Each card is unique. Out of the hundreds of cards that have been made, there have never been two cards that looked alike. Everyone has found it possible to share her voice by making a card. Several years ago, I had an opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with a group of artists. I brought Traveling Postcards and one day hiked into the jungle and made cards with a family we met. I watched as the girls carefully placed just a few stickers on their cards. I had brought an abundance of art supplies with me, but they didn’t need them. They were proud to engage in the process and to write their full names on their card. I was reminded of how much we take for granted in our culture of excess, and how important it is to see that there are simpler ways of living and giving. I also gave them some Traveling Postcards as gifts and I know that in that moment the girls, who lived high in the jungle in a remote part of Costa Rica, understood that they were a part of a larger community who cares about the health and well being of all women.

In Uganda, a group of young people made incredible, heartfelt postcards filled with glitter and cut up magazine pictures to send to women in the Congo. Expressing their emotions so openly was a new and uneasy task, but with the help of a wonderful facilitator, Conso Buzabo, they intuitively shared their compassionate connections through simple art making.

In the United States I have made cards with women who are survivors of domestic violence. During these workshops I felt a peace that seemed to resonate around the room. Simply sitting together around a table surrounded by beautiful art making supplies, we quietly chose objects that reflected the selves we wish to share despite our circumstances. Afterwards, one woman told me that she hadn’t felt anything in such a long time, and now she felt happy.

I always love to receive a singular Traveling Postcard in the mail. There is a beautiful story on our website of a woman who knew she wanted to make a difference, but felt uncertain that she would ever be able to do enough. She found that by trusting herself, and making one card with the intention of sharing her innate wisdom, her need to be of value in our society was fulfilled. She then went on to hold several Traveling Postcards workshops both in her own community, and then in Kenya!

How can Have Fun, Do Good readers get involved with Traveling Postcards?

First of all, you can make a postcard! Traveling Postcards workshops are easy and fun for everyone. Anyone can become a facilitator and host a workshop in their community, and we encourage everyone to get involved. We have directions and guidelines on the website, and lots of good ideas about art materials and how to get started.

Learn more! There are many issues that affect the well-being of women and their communities. Education, healthcare, violence, lack of economic resources, trafficking, to name just a few. Find an issue that matters to you and use art to find your voice and share your concern. Use the resources we provide online as a starting point. Learning more about the issues will empower you as you discover what really resonates with your heart.

Men are also encouraged to participate by finding their voice and honoring a woman who has made a difference in their lives. Art materials can be found at home, or can be provided for you. We are developing a Traveling Postcard Kit that can be adapted to your particular situation and sent to you.

We are always looking for facilitators on the ground, either individuals or organizations who would be willing to lead workshops with communities of women and girls who are isolated and disconnected from the larger global population. Sometimes we have volunteers who will pack Traveling Postcards in their suitcase and give them away while they are traveling. It is a great way to make a personal connection by giving a gift of love. Lastly we always love to receive an individual card in the mail. If you feel more comfortable making your card at home, please feel free to do so.

Please tell your friends, and "like" us on Facebook. The more people who know about Traveling Postcards the better! Please add your voice to the conversation. Tell us what you are doing to make positive change in your community.

We are also funding very special after school art classes in Afghanistan through our partnership with Trust In Education. We know that creativity and freedom of expression go a long way in educating children to be tolerant and open minded. We must raise $1,000 to keep our classes going for another year. I am passionate about helping women and girls in Afghanistan to be fully independent and self-expressed, and I am looking for opportunities to bring a Traveling Postcards workshop to women who are currently living in Afghan shelters. If you want to support Afghan women and girls, make a Traveling Postcard and send it to us.

We are also planning a trip to Peru! If you would like to join that campaign, please let me know.

What else would you like Have Fun, Do Good's readers know about Traveling Postcards?

We have come a long way! What started out as a personal art project has grown into a global community project that has created over 800 handmade cards carrying voices to and from the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Costa Rica, Niger, Namibia, America, Haiti and Afghanistan. Anyone with a desire to enact change, empower women and girls, and help battle oppression is invited to share their voice and join us. Our grassroots campaign involves all ages from teens to seniors.

We all carry a desire to be recognized and appreciated, and often it takes only a small gesture of deep listening or witnessing for a situation of despair to turn to one of hope and resiliency. How can we step outside of our fears in order to lend a compassionate hand first to ourselves, and then to others? Traveling Postcards offers an opportunity to make connections without leaving home and is committed to offering voice and visibility to everyone.

My focus is to create an opportunity to share our wisdom even when it seems as if no one is listening. Empowered action can take many forms, and it is not mine to define what any one person will express once their essence has been witnessed. Believing in yourself against all odds takes courage and strength. Traveling Postcards is an opportunity to be held for the time it takes to create a card, and then celebrated as your voice joins hundreds of others to stand strongly in the face of repression and isolation. We hope you will share your voice with the world!

Caroline Lovellis a transformative artist living and working in California with a deep commitment to affecting change for woman through creativity.
Her life as an artist is about using the creative process as a healing tool for personal growth and community awareness. She believes that our stories matter, and our personal expression of that story can cross borders and reach far beyond ourselves to grow and affect change for generations to come.

If you're an iTunes user, one of the ways you can
help me celebrate this anniversary is by finding the Big Vision
Podcast in the iTunes Store and giving it a star rating (hopefully a
good one!), or by writing a review to encourage folks to check it out. I'd *really* appreciate it.

Please note that because the conversations take place over six years,
some people's work and lives have changed. They have new job titles,
work someplace else, and in some cases, have new names! The way they're
titled below is how they were listed at the time of the interview. Happy listening!

Chris Messina of Citizen Agency and Ivan Storck of
SustainableMarketing.com and SustainableWebsites.com talk about how to
start a green coworking space based on their experience with Citizen
Space in San Francisco, CA.ListenRead

Anna Lappé, Co-Author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen and Co-Founder of the Small Planet Fund.ListenRead

Nola
Brantley, Parenting and Youth Enrichment Director, and the Coordinator
of the Sexually Abused and Commercially Exploited Youth Program at the
George P. Scotland Youth Program in West OaklandListenRead

Friday, February 17, 2012

I've been enjoying fat mum slim's February photo a day challenge. Each day she shares a photo idea for you to take and share on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, or your blog using the hashtag #febphotoaday. It's only the middle of the month, if you want to join in on the fun!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

"I got the most moving email from them that with the first half of the money they had, of course, used it to buy their supplies and get started, but they were also able to each buy a plot of land in a safer area, outside of Goma, and when we sent the second payment, they were able to each get enough supplies to buy small houses and their families were coming from all of the country because they had the safest homes." ~ Stacey Edgar, Global Girlfriend

Stacey Edgar started Global Girlfriend
in 2003 as a way to provide economic security for women in need by
creating a sustainable market for their products. She used her 10 years
in social work practice with women and children as a springboard to her
role as a social entrepreneur. Global Girlfriend works with over sixty
women's cooperatives and NGOs in 20 countries. Its fair trade boutique
offers a line of women-made, fair-trade products including stylish
apparel, accessories and gifts with one purpose - to help women in need
help themselves.

Stacey has been honored by the Microsoft Corporation as a recipient of its Start Something Amazing Awards, by the Denver Business Journal as a "40 Under 40" Business Leader, featured in several magazines including O, The Oprah Magazine, in Multichannel Merchant magazine as a "Maven of Merchandise," and by Organic Style as one their 2005 Women with Organic Style. Her first book, Global Girlfriends: How One Mom Made It Her Business to Help Women in Poverty Worldwide, came out last year.

You can listen and subscribe to the Big Vision Podcast via iTunes,
or on the player above. If you have suggestions for people I should
interview, please email me at britt AT brittbravo DOT com

Full disclosure: The link to Stacey's book, Global Girlfriend, is linked to my Amazon Associates account. If you purchase something after clicking on the link, I receive a small percentage of the sale.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Longtime readers know that I'm a big fan of Dining for Women, an organization that facilitates "potlucks for a purpose."

Women bring food to eat together, and donate what they would have spent on going out to dinner to an organization that, "reaches women at the grass-roots level
while promoting self-sufficiency" The combined donations from the 250+ Dining for Women chapters across the country can make a huge difference for an organization.

I had the privilege of meeting Dining for Women's founder, Marsha Wallace in 2006, when she invited me down to Los Angeles for an event Dining for Women sponsored, an evening with Wangari Maathai (how cool is that!). I interviewed Marsha for the Big Vision Podcast in 2007 and again in 2010, and have mentioned Dining for Women's work many times here on Have Fun, Do Good.

This week I was thrilled to see Dining for Women featured on the NBC Nightly News segment, "Making a Difference." You can watch the 2-minute video by clicking this link, or on the player below

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Whether I'm working with bloggers and creative entrepreneurs, or talking with a friend, everyone I know is trying to grow good habits. They want to write "morning pages," meditate, exercise, blog, cook dinner, make art, stretch, drink 8 glasses of water, eat healthier, and give thanks more often (sound familiar?).

When I've asked people about what helps them keep good habits, they say:

Enjoying the process

Enjoying the result

Having fun

Having a role model, or mentor

Keeping the habit with a buddy, or partner

Making it a ritual (rather than a goal)

Being accountable to someone else

Being accountable to only themselves

Having a system, or structure

Feeling grateful

What good habits do you have, and what makes you keep them?

In the little 3-minute video (above), I'll show you the awesome gift the hubs made for me that I've been calling my "Happy Reminder Board." As some of you know, during the 40 days before I turned 40, I did a daily practice of moving, playing, reflecting and connecting. By the time my birthday came around, I felt great! In 2012, I'm trying to grow the good habit of doing these four things every day, and I've been using my Happy Reminder Board to help me.

If you want help growing your blogging or creative habits, let me know! I love working with folks one-on-one. Also, let me know if you want a Happy Reminder Board. Maybe the hubs will make you one too!

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

You don't need to be a blogger, to try the Generous Living prompts, so I thought I'd share them here too. If you'd like to receive the Juicy Blogging eNews in your in-box once a month, you can subscribe by clicking here. Have fun doing good!

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Wednesday, February 1
Live it: What are your generous living goals for the month? How do you want to give to yourself, your friends, your family, your local community, and the world at large?
Blog it: Share your reflections on your blog.

Thursday, February 2Live it: Jot down ideas for gifts or cards for friends, family and colleagues who have February and March birthdays.
Blog it: Share a home made, or do-good gift idea on your blog.

Friday, February 3
Live it: Go for a walk and take a photo of something fun, funny, hopeful, or inspiring.
Blog it: Share the photo on your blog. If you can’t take a photo, find a photo on Flickr with an Attribution License. Be sure to credit and link back to the photographer, and let them know that you used their photograph.

Saturday and Sunday, February 4 and 5Live it: Make a big batch of soup, or a large casserole. Freeze and share extra servings with someone who could use a break from cooking.
Blog it: Post photos of your dish, and the recipe on your blog.

Monday, February 6

Live it: Buy or borrow a book about a person who inspires you, or a cause you’re passionate about.Blog it: Share your 5 favorite do-good, or inspiring books on your blog.

Tuesday, February 7
Live it: Valentine’s Day is in a week. Make a list of people to send Valentines. Is there someone who will feel extra lonely on Valentine’s Day? Be sure to send them a card.
Blog it: Share a home made, or do-good Valentine’s Day idea on your blog.

Wednesday, February 8
Live it: What are you really good at? Give it away to someone today.
Blog it: Write about your experience giving it away, or give something away on your blog.

Thursday, February 9
Live it: Post a quote that inspires you in a prominent place at work, or in your home.
Blog it: Share the quote on your blog. If you want, share a photo of where you posted it.

Friday, February 10Live it: Find or make a video about something fun, funny, hopeful, or inspiring.
Blog it: Share the video on your blog.

Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12Live it: Bake a batch of cookies, or cupcakes to share at a party, with your neighbors, or at work.

Blog it: Post photos of your treats, and the recipe on your blog.

Monday, February 13Live it: Make a donation to your favorite nonprofit, or do-good project
Blog it: Shine a spotlight on the organization, or project on your blog. Share why it is close to your heart.

Tuesday, February 14
Live it: Write an email, or send a card to someone who inspires you.
Blog it: Post a "link love" list of bloggers who inspire you, and whose posts make your heart sing.